I just received an email that both (which are owned by the same parent I believe) are closing their brick-and-morter stores and moving to exclusively online. For someone who has shopped at both as my LHBS, this is pretty disappointing. It’s unfortunate that the economics don’t support the store anymore, as I really liked having yeast readily available and buying sacks of base malts and specialty grains.
I know many of you out there do not have a LHBS that is easily accessible, so I’d appreciate a few tips as to the most efficient way to navigate all of this.
Definitely a first world problem, but not ideal either.
After looking at Northern Brewer pricing online, the first thing I’d be doing is looking for another supplier. You might want to check out MoreBeer. They have a warehouse in PA, only have a $59 threshold for free shipping and better pricing. They also offer discounts on base malts when you buy six 5 lb. bags.
It is a sad day for sure. Nothing like having a brick-and-mortar store to purchase things like grain, liquid yeast, and CO2. Just means I will have to put a lot more thought into getting supplies and ordering when the weather is moderate. Oh, well, what can you do.
Every business has to decide what to take some losses on and what not to. It’s a bummer that they don’t want to have in-person experiences for their local customers anymore. Hopefully there are some other stores around to offer that. I’ll continue to support my local LBHS as I have- it’s a great thing to be able to stop and grab what you need.
Just from the outside looking in: it seems like this brand has been struggling for more than a decade. Frankly, it’s been a drama $#!+ show to watch IMO.
They got rid of the Brewing TV that introduced us to numerous homebrewer personalities that taught people how to brew (Jake Keeler, Micheal Dawson, Chip Walton, Don Osborn, Bryon Adams, and others. BTW: Their best interview was with Fred Eckhardt IMO.), then they sold to AB InBev, then bought it from them, now closing brick and mortars. I believe they’ve lost their way.
It isn’t surprising when a company shoots themselves in the foot once. What is surprising is when they empty the clip, rapid reload, and keep firing.
A VC company bought them from ABInbev. Then that company bought Adventures in Homebrewing when the owners decided to retire. AiH owned Austin Homebrew Supply and that was part of the sale.
The AiH and Austin HS became online only with no storefronts. The VC company had before and after data. It could be that the storefront isn’t profitable or as profitable as online, and drags the numbers down?
Maybe the lesson is “follow people (content producers) not businesses (content curators)”.
on following people: I picked two names and quickly found that 1) The Chop & Brew web site is active and 2) the book “Mash Maker” was published in 2022. So while “Brewing TV” isn’t where they talk about home brewing, they still talk about home brewing.
For curators and content providers: if you’re going put content behind a pay wall, recognize that it’s value probably declines to ‘historical interest’ in about 3 to 5 years. Need evidence? Consider web searching the ideas in "How Cold Steeping Malt Can Elevate Your Beer " (HomeBrewCon 2016) across the various content on the interwebs. It could be, that in 2023, the starting point for “cold extraction” for most home brewers is UltraLowBrewing dot com (or a similar site I haven’ found).
Don O has a podcast that regularly includes Chip Walton and Michael Dawson. I think Jake Keeler was an AHA Governing Board member for a while, but may have moved on from the hobby. He was an artist and fished - combining those in his endeavors. I definitely miss the old shows they put out - very fun.
I started using Northern Brewer back in the 90’s. They were my “go to” for over 20 years. That said, they have gone downhill over the last several years. In particular, over the last year or two, their shipping was just terrible. I used to order something and literally have it delivered on my doorstep 1-2 days later. Recently, I was getting e-mails a week later saying they were just getting to my order. Sad to say, I quit ordering from them altogether this past year. Mail order goes to MoreBeer usually now. Cheaper, faster, more dependable. I also have always liked Labelpeelers as well. I have not used them in a while, but Farmhouse Brewing Supply is one I have used as well.
Not sure about all the things that went wrong at NB… but the purchase by AB seems to be about the beginning of the slide, and in my experience, that really picked up over the last 2-3 years.
Interesting. The reason you left NB and went to MoreBeer (faster turnaround) is the exact reason I left MoreBeer and went to Keystone Homebrew. ;D Maybe MoreBeer has cleaned up their order processing recently, but a few years ago they would sit on my order for days before I would get notice that it finally shipped.
MoreBeer has very fast processing and shipping. I live near one of their retail stores and went there last week to purchase some ingredients. They didn’t have one of the dried yeasts that I wanted so I asked them to order it for me. Usually when I have them order things from the warehouse it comes the next Friday, which is when the store gets its delivery. That is what I was expecting, but the next day it arrived at my home via FedEx! I had that happen once before, with a 55# sack of grain that they shipped to my home for free.
Over the next year, the local clubs (MHBA, NBA, SPHBC) should be a good source of information regarding possible local pick-up and/or group buys.
malts: a combination of RiteBrew + Farmhouse Brewing Supply (FBS) covers the majority of the malts that Midwest Supplies stocked. FBS currently has a wide selection of Great Western and Weyermann malts. I’ve ordered from both within the last six months.
Muntons dry malt extracts: Home Brew Ohio stocks it. I haven’t ordered from them (yet).
Hops & yeast: RiteBrew & FBS have been good suppliers. For a small number of sachets of yeast, RiteBrew recently had a U.S. Mail option. I’ve read that Label Peelers will also ship small amounts U.S. Mail (I haven’t ordered from them).
I live a couple of miles from the Saint Paul store. This is a HUGE bummer for me. I can’t believe they are closing the flagship store. I remember that store being around when I was in college in the 90’s, when I briefly brewed extract kits. Coming back to the hobby about 18 years ago NB was my LHBS. It seems the hobby peaked 5-10 years ago. Hard to believe it’s changed THIS much, but time marches on I guess. I had a friend who worked at the Minneapolis NB store during the hay-day of home brewing. Sounds like that was a vibrant store with it’s own culture and vibe. When they closed that store I didn’t take it as a sign of things to come. I assumed that maybe it was too close to Midwest, and was redundant? Anyway I guess I never saw them shuddering the little Grand Ave. store. I stopped in yesterday and it was sad. The whole store is very picked over. It is what it is, but kind of sad to the see this shop go out like this. I can think of so many great staffers over the years, and stopping in to get tips and advice. I was saying to my wife that this ALMOST makes me want to quit the hobby. Not likely, as I have an electric brew room in my basement. It will be a big change, not being able to just stop by and mill my own grist from the grain room, or make a quick run for yeast, cleaning supplies, etc. I should start a new thread asking for advice on shifting to a “no LHBS” survival scheme. Anyway I’m lifting a glass to the St. Paul NB. Godspeed.
At least you can still order online from the same entity (owner, I guess)…I try to keep my LHBS alive by visiting regularly and placing orders through it for bulk items (sacks of grain and pounds of hops) and last minute pick up items. If it goes out of business, I would likely have over an hour drive to the nearest alternative, so I would be going with more online supplies in that event. In order to make the shipping tolerable, you should combine orders to qualify for free shipping where possible, whether that would be on a stock up basis by you or doing orders for group buys.
Best of luck as the new world transition for our hobby takes shape.
There have been too many occasions when me or the assistant brewer (wife) had to run out and pick something up at the last moment because the head brewer (me) had his head up his arse and needed some critical ingredient on brew day. I really like knowing there’s a local option.
I’ve made some very interesting ingredient swaps since my LHBS closed. I’ve become very anal when it comes to checking lists, double checking lists, and then checking again. I still miss things which means I order enough of missed item to stock a good LHBS.
I drive 2+ hours, minimum, in any direction for bulk supplies. I feel your pain and wish that the brews be always in your favor.
What online retailers have people had the best luck when it comes to liquid yeast? I plan to move more towards dry yeast when possible, but certain styles are going to require a liquid strain. Looking at the LHBS still remaining in MN, most don’t carry the wide selection that MW and NB did.
